We need an international campaign to save the lives of
jailed Iranian worker activists

The Islamic Republic and Iranian prison authorities will be
held accountable for the grievous harm inflicted on the political prisoners in
Ward 350. All those responsible for ordering this attack and those who carried
it out should be brought to justice.

The injured political prisoners must receive immediate and
appropriate medical attention and treatment outside the prison facilities.

All political prisoners who were put in solitary confinement
must be returned to Ward 350 immediately.

The families of the political prisoners must be able to meet
their loved ones unconditionally.

Reza Shahabi, a member of the executive board of the Union
of Workers of Tehran and Suburbs United Bus Company (Vahed), has been jailed
for his part in the great bus workers’ strike in 2006 and in forming the bus
workers’ union.

In early June2014
Shahabi began a hunger strike in protest against his transfer to Rajaee Shahr
Prison, instead of being admitted to hospital for urgent medical care and
treatment. Now on his 35th day on hunger strike, his condition is critical. The
prison authorities and the Islamic regime officials have refused to pay any
attention to his legitimate demands.

Shahrokh Zamani, another worker activist in Iran who himself
is under constant threat and pressure in Rajaee Shahr prison, has expressed his
serious concerns for the life of Reza Shahabi.

Shahabi suffers from multiple medical conditions, including
a severe back problem. Unfinished treatments have led to deterioration in
Shahabi’s condition; problems in his neck, back and arms and legs are
threatening and might paralyse him. In a protest letter to the prison
authorities, he writes: “I have problems in both my legs, which go numb and are
getting weaker, so I can only get up with massage and with the help of my cell
mates”. He then asks: “Is this anything but prisoners’ slow death through
physical and mental exhaustion”? He says, if anything happens to him, the
responsibility lies with the judiciary, the prisons’ organisation and the highest
state authorities.

Behnam Ebrahimzadeh has been in prison since June 2010 on a
five-year sentence for union activities. During an assault on political
prisoners in Ward 350 of Evin Prison on 17th June this year, he was among the
prisoners who were severely beaten up and injured and moved to ward 240 of Evin
prison. After massive protests, he was moved back to ward 350 on May Day. On
May 3rd, he was moved to ward 209. Ward 209 is the interrogation unit of Evin
Prsion in Tehran, run bythe Ministry of
Intelligence. Torture and maltreatment are routinely practised as part of the
interrogations.

We are concerned for Ebrahimzadeh's wellbeing. Since being
moved to Ward 209, he has had only one chance to meet with his family. However,
following this visit, on June 27, the police raided Ebrahimzadeh's home and
took away his personal documents and his son's computer. They threatened his
wife and his 16 year old son, Nima, who is currently under treatment for
leukaemia, a fact that has added to Ebrahimzadeh's psychological distress.

Ebrahimzadeh is a member of the Committee to Pursue the
Establishment of Free Labour Organisations in Iran and a campaigner for
children’s rights. He has been subjected to severe tortures during his
incarceration.

We call on all trade unions and human rights organisations
around the world and all those appalled by the horrific human rights abuse in
Iran to support Reza Shahabi, Behnam Ebrahimzadeh and all jailed workers in
Iran.

All jailed trade unionists and political prisoners must be
freed immediately and unconditionally! Harassment of workers and their families
must stop immediately!